Monday, August 31, 2020

Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley

When Kat finds out children are missing from the foundlings home, she's upset.  They're young, small and can't protect themselves.  Where did they disappear to?

Net Galley and Berkley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

As she questions staff, they tell her they've been adopted.  But the addresses that have been given are either empty lots or new development going up.  When the little nurse living there and taking care of the children disappears it's another concern.  Kat gets her boyfriend to help.  He finds the nurse but she's dead.

Kat meets Daniel's older brother.  He was in love with the nurse.  She learns a lot about both of them as they look for the killers and the children.

They find themselves visiting the wrong side of town looking for the children.  Kat gets roughed up.  Soon Daniel has got the police helping them.

Will they find the children alive or dead?

This is a busy story with complications, but it's a good read.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Blacklisted by Jay Crownover

Dr. Presley Baskin has lost both her parents but gained a whole new family she knew nothing about.  She's a bit standoffish and quite reserved.  They are not!  So when her almost twin calls her and asks her to come down to the bar to help her, she goes.  And finds a shot up biker.  She does what she can but she says he needs a hospital.  They take him back to the club; it has hospital facilities and they have a doctor.  She goes with them.  He survives.

Forever and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 27th.

He's the biker gang president and his name is Shot.  He owes her, so he when he finds she has a stalker, he helps her face the danger.  He guards her.  But he never planned on two killers.

They both end up shot and she almost doesn't make it.  Her new little brother shared a kidney with her.

As time goes on, they find themselves falling in love.  He's exciting and she's calming.  (There are erotic sex scenes.)

They manage to survive their challenges and agree to become a couple.  They have to be the most mis-matched couple around but they love each other...

Saturday, August 29, 2020

The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle

They are mirror images of each other but they have a dark place in their souls...

William Morrow and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 20th.

Iris has been jealous of her twin summer for a long time.  Summer became her parent's favorite and she married Adam and is living happily ever after.  Iris married Noah but got divorced.  She's doing OK but she's jealous of her sister's relationship.

When her father dies, all his money will go to whomever Carmichael has the first baby.  There are a lot of Carmichael's and it creates trouble in the family.

When Samantha invites Iris to take a trip on the sailboat she loves, she says yes.  She thinks Adam will be her crew.  Wrong, Samantha is.

When they begin their trip, all is fine.  Samantha cooks, Iris handles the boat. 

One morning when Iris arises after her night shift, she can't find her sister anywhere.  Reviewing the film she sees her knocked off the boat by the sail.  She looks for her for a week before giving up.  Then she goes back to shore.  Adam assumes she's Samantha and she lets him do that.  Soon she's taken Samantha's life over.  She's happy being Adam's wife and she's soon pregnant.

But her perfect life is about to end.  Samantha comes back, with a gun...  Who is going to die?

Friday, August 28, 2020

Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie

I've always loved Agatha Christie's tales.   They are solidly put together, not obvious and it's great fun to try to solve the murder beffore the main character does.  Sometimes it's a total shock when you do find out and it's always her man or woman who reveals it.  This is an anthology with stories set in winter.

William Morrow and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read and review this book Z(thank you).  It will be published October 20th.

You have Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot in a couple of stories each.  I'm fond of Miss Marple.

Whether you are an old fan or someone who hasn't read her work before, you'll enjoy this read.  All the stories are good, not too long, and there is a nice variety.

If you like mysteries, you'll like this book!

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Peter Rabbit and Friends by Beatrix Potter

These are stores I read as a child.  My grandparents had them in mini-books and I read them while visiting.  They have a special place in my heart.

Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 13th.

Mrs Rabbit leaves Peter and his sisters home while she runs an errand.  She tells them where they will be safe and warns them to stay out of the garden.  She's very strict about it but that doesn't stop Peter Rabbit...

Benjamin Bunny gets in trouble, too.  No wonder he's a friend of Peter's!

Mr. Jeremy Fisher went fishing, but he's the one that gets caught...

Tom Kitten, being a boy manages to find trouble, too.

Pigling Bland does pretty good for being a captured pigling.  He even finds a new friend.

Then there's the tale of the pie and the patty pan.  The puppy eats up the pie and then thinks he ate the patty pan.  He gets ill.  The cat goes for the doctor.  Then the puppy figures out what's going on and hides his pie outside.  It's not safe out there...

The illustrations are lovely and the stories are fun to read.  You should share these with any young one in your family.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

No Ordinary Thing : The Tale of the Traveling Snow Globe by G. Z. Schmidt

Adam is living with his Uncle since his parent's deaths.  They live above the Biscuit Basket and work in the bakery below.  Then a stranger comes in and tells Adam to check out the attic.  He shows him a snow globe and indicates there may be another up there.  The snow globe doesn't attract him all that much but the idea it was his parent's is enticing.

Holiday House and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 13th.

When his Uncle sends him up to the attic to look for things of value they could sell so they can pay the rent, he finds a snow globe.  He keeps that for himself and it's later in his room that he finds it has special properties.  He shakes it and finds himself taken to the scene in the globe.  It was snowing in the globe and soon he has snow falling on him!  It's a time travel globe!

He goes back in time to various years.  He wants to save his parents but he learns you can't change events.  He can't save them or stop a big factory fire.  But he makes friends as he goes.

Then he notices a man watching him.  He realizes he wants the snow globe.  Can he keep it safe or will he lose this wonder?  He's a dangerous man...

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Cinders & Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann

Thirteen year old Zita Is an orphan and a housemaid at the orphanage she's in.   She really can't remember her family.  She just remembers going into the woods and never coming back...

Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on October 13th.

Then the orphanage gets a letter for her.  She has inherited the mansion they lived in.  She doesn't remember it but she's not going to give it up.  She heads out to get there and finds the way long and the passage slow.  The last stage takes her to the bottom of the hill and tells she'll have to walk the rest of the way.  When she asks why he tells her there are witches and ghosts at the house and he's not going close.  Then he leaves and she takes her tired body up the big hill.

The mansion is huge.  The girl opening the door is not much older than her.  She and the boy are both friendly.  The old woman that has been living there is not happy to see her.  She crabs about everything.  It doesn't take long until Zita figures out she's trying to get rid of her.

Zita looks for information about her family.  She doesn't find much, but she learns that her mother is still alive.  Now she has two lives to fight for.

The ending is exciting and unexpected.  Any child who loves fantasy and doesn't scare too easily will love this book.  It was an entertaining read.  Karma comes into play...

Monday, August 24, 2020

Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines by Jennifer J. Chow

Mimi has a hot boyfriend, a talking cat, and a sister she loves.  When she goes to meet her sister and they are walking out of the school, they find a teacher slumped in the car, dead.

Berkley and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on November 10th.

When Detective Brown decides her sister is the leading suspect, Mimi jumps to her defense and begins her own investigation.  There are several things happening at the school which makes those involved look suspect.  The principal liked to give everyone a little hug.  Now he's been accused of sexual harassment by the victim.  There are other things going on muddying up the investigation.

She keeps looking and finally centers on the killer.  I was afraid she might not survive because he was trying to kill her but the cops came to the rescue.  You won't believe who the killer was!

Sunday, August 23, 2020

They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus

Buddy wakes up in the middle of a garbage dump.  How did he get there?

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published now and you can grab a copy.

I still have my teddy bear from childhood.  He is a small panda missing one eye and quite a bit of hair.  But he's still my friend.  So how could I not read this book?

Buddy finds other teddies and helps them out of their boxes.  They all have individual personalities.  They decide they need to get out of the dump and look for home.  Without intending it, Buddy is being called Boss and they expect him to lead them.

This is an exciting tale.  The dozers are working the trash and they have to move fast to avoid being scooped up.  It's a long way to the city where they hope to find children that will want them.  More teddies join them.  Not all the teddies make it.  And when they find a toy store and try to put themselves on the shelf, the store manager wants to cut them to pieces!

There's more excitement and when you reach the end you see there is another book coming.  This is a series and I'll be watching for the next book!  After all, we still don't know why they threw them away...

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The Girl Who Wasn't There by Vincent Zandri

He's finally out of jail for the first time in ten years.  He was the driver and hadn't killed the family but he was the last one standing.  The whole time he was in prison, he had to watch his back.  His boss didn't want him leaking any facts.

Oceanview Publishing and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 13th.

He  goes a bit outside his parole boundaries to take his family to the lake.  While his daughter is playing with another girl, he and his wife retreat to the hotel room for hanky panky.  They are out in 15 minutes, but their daughter is gone.  Sidney can't stand that and immediately begins searching for her.

What he doesn't know is that even the ones he trusts are screwing him.  They want the money and they are willing to do anything to get it.  Sidney is a walking key.  His eye and the combination will open a vault containing massive amounts of money.

They are setting him up to go back to jail.  But Sidney isn't going.  More people die all along.  He discovers his wife had a lover while he was inside.  If no one is true to him, he's going to take his girl and go, as soon as he can find her...

Friday, August 21, 2020

The French Widow by Mark Pryor

Hugh Marston was walking when he saw a man pull a gun out and start shooting.  He killed one lady and kept shooting, so Hugh pulls his gun and shoots.  He misses with the first two shots, but he hits the gun with third shot and the killer with the fourth.  He's a hero for a short while until they find the guns the man had came from them embassy that Hugh worked at.  Who and how had that happened?

Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It was published September 15th.

This mystery is more psychological than most.  If Hugh didn't have a good brain, they might have gotten away with it.

He's trying to figure out why the youth he shot was out shooting at random.  Looking over where he lives, they find his mother dismembered and hidden in different pieces of furniture and the freezer.  He was obviously not sane.

When he visits the husband of the dead woman, he picks up that something is off, but he's not sure what.

Then they get a call from a moneyed family that is missing a son.  No one knows when he left or where he'd go.  The police search but find nothing.  Then another sister is killed.  It's supposed to look like a suicide but Hugh knows better.

Both cases are tough.  It takes Hugh's instincts to solve both crimes but there is no happily ever after.

Life is like that.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Reynard the Fox by Renate Raecke, Jonas Laustroer

Reynard can talk himself out of anything.  Some of it is lies, but those listening don't know that.  When the King declares his peace days and invites everyone to come.  He listens to complaints and makes judgement.  It seems like everyone has a complaint against Reynard.  He sends his advisor out after him.

Mine Editions and Edelweiss let me read this book so I could review it (thank you).  It will be published on October 6th.

When the bear advisor returns, he's worse for wear.  The fox trapped him in a fallen tree by taking the wedges out.  He was looking for non-existent honey.  He loses some fur and looks pathetic.  So the King sends his cat advisor.

Reynard sends him on a quest to catch mice knowing there is a noose inside that will grab him.  He comes back with a noose around neck and looking all messed up.

Finally the badger says he will go.  He's Reynard's relative and anticipates better luck.  He gets him to come to the King's court.  He very modestly gives his account about what happened.  I swear, he can get away with anything.  The King invites him to be one of his advisors.

I bet the complainants are just shaking their heads...

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

The Rock Hole by Reavis Z. Wortham

It all started with tortured animals.  They were showing up everywhere.  And Ned started finding catalog or newspaper pages under them of children.  He's afraid the killer is working his way up to them...

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on October 6th.

Ned has no idea who could be doing this.  They'd had animal killings years ago but it stopped.  Why was it back?  Was it the old killer or is it a new one?

While all this is going on, a man gets out of prison and comes home to find another man occupying his bed.  He went in with the ax and he kills the man, his wife and all the children that were home.  One was staying at Ned's house to visit with his grandson and he's the only survivor.  He burned the cottage they were staying in and that's how they found the murders.  The baby is missing.  Unfortunately the animal killer has it.  It's dead already so he just sets it aside.

Ned asks the black deputy from the black side of town to help him.  They find the man who killed his family but clues are scarce on the other killer.

He's instructed the kids to stay in the house but they sneak out and go down to the Rock Hole.  It's good for finding arrowheads.  They'll be sorry.  The killer is waiting.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Breath the Sky by Michelle Hazen

Mari is a bio and saves endangered animals.  She's on site with a crew building towers and there's one guy no one wants to do business with.  Of course, she gets assigned to his crew...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published today.

Jack is rough and loud and gets mad at his crew if they are not careful.  At times they are so high a fall would be a killer so he watches them like a hawk and comes to the rescue when he can.  She knows he's loud but she attributes that to his worries.  When she finds a little turtle under his wheel, he's not happy.  He's going to a meeting and doesn't have time for a turtle.  He shouts all over her until she shows him the baby turtle.  Then he takes it and goes to find shade to put it in.  He's not as heartless as he acts.

Later down the line his boss tells him to destroy the endangered bird eggs so their work site won't be shut down anymore.  He looks them up, but they are so small he can't do it.  Mari was right there watching him and she told him thank you.  He hadn't seen her but he was glad he followed his instincts.

Then he finds out what motel she's in.  One of the crew has moved there too and is harassing her.  Jack moves in next door to her and stops that nonsense.  They can hear each other through the thin motel walls.  They are watching the same programs each night.  One night she gets brave and grabs two beers and goes next door.  She suggests they watch TV together.  They do.  And some how it leads to something else...

His brother is in jail and he has to go bail him out.  They fight before he leaves.  They don't talk after that.  She heads out for a new job now that this one was done.  He comes back and looks for her but can't find her.  Nobody will tell him where she is or share her new number.  Will he find his love?

Monday, August 17, 2020

Spy Penguins: Golden Egg by Sam Hay, Marek Jagucki

When they find out a crook has broken out of jail, the two penguins decide they will get him back.  Then the FBI might accept them as part of the team.  But they didn't anticipate babysitting an egg while they were doing this...

Feiwel & Friends and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 15th.

 They find themselves in a contest they didn't intend to enter thanks to the Mom who gave him the egg to watch.  She's not feeling well and goes to lay down.  He and his friend plan to fail the first round and quit, but Mom assigned the neighbor lady to keep an eyeball on him, so that's out. 

They go through the tests until there is only one left to do.  Then the tournament is stopped because the prize has gone missing.  Not only that, the gem that was on display is gone, too.

Can two young penguins save the day?  It's not looking good when they find the egg is missing, too.  Where could that have gone, it was in his backpack.

Not to worry.  It all gets sorted out.  But it takes a mastodon to give them an edge.

This is an exciting and entertaining middle school read.  Share it with the reader in your life.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Lily to the Rescue: The Not-So-Stinky Skunk W. Bruce Cameron, Jennifer L. Meyer

Lily is going with her girl and the father to gather up prairie dogs and move them.  The only way to catch them is to vacuum them up!

Starscape and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 29th.

While they are vacuuming up the prairie dogs, Lily goes sniffing out all the strange animal smells.  She finds a black fuzzy animal with some white stripes and she's pleased when it presents its butt for her to sniff.  However, the humans are not!

They immediately grab Lily and take her down to give her a bath at the lake.  That gets exciting when they find Lily can't swim.  Eventually her father notices that no one stinks.  Then they have to find the skunk because she won't survive in the wild.

Lily follows her scent and locates her.  Then they take her to the rescue facility to get her checked out.  She doesn't have any scent glands.  But they do find a safe place for her to live so it all works out well.

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Lily to the Rescue: Dog Dog Goose W. Bruce Cameron, Jennifer L. Meyer (Illustrated by)

Lily is a rescue dog who dearly loves her little girl. They go to the shelter every day so Lily can visit her friends.  No one expected to find baby geese on the property...

Starscape and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 29th.

A fox has scared the mother away, so they are going to rescue the goslings.  The girl puts Lily in the nest to help them calm down.  It works but it doesn't.  She calms them down but they imprint on Lily as their mother!

This is a sweet story with all the animals and everyone adjusting to the various situations.  Lily can't teach them to fly.  How will they learn?  And will her older brother be able to earn enough money to adopt an old dog at the shelter?

This was a fun read that young adults will enjoy.

Friday, August 14, 2020

When Pumpkins Fly by Margaret Lawrence

This is a cute tale of how children in remote areas get their pumpkins and celebrate Halloween. 

Inhabit media and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on September 8th.

The illustrations are lovely.  It's amazing what happens to the pumpkin in the extreme cold.  You even learn a couple of new words.  This would make a wonderful Halloween gift!  Just be sure you explain the spirits away...

Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood, Don Wood

The little Mouse looks out his door and finds a gorgeous red strawberry ready for picking.  He gets his ladder and goes out to pick it.  While he's harvesting it, he finds out there is a bear in the woods who loves strawberries too.


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 15th.


The mouse tries all kinds of unique ways to hide his strawberry, but he knows the bear will find it.  So he does the most sensible thing, he cuts it in half, shes it with the narrator, and eats his half.  The perfect solution!

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Kits, Cubs, and Calves by Suzie Napayok-Short, Tamara Campeau

 

Take a trip to Alaska from your comfortable reading chair.

Inhabit Media and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 1st.

When a little girl goes to stay with her aunt and uncle, she learns a lot about nature.  She sees a fox and her kits on the way home.  They are going on a picnic the next day and will get to view polar bears and their cubs.  It used to be a camp for her family but the bears took it over.

On the boat, heading for the island, she sees beluga whales and the calf one mother has.  Then a whale calf shows up all alone.  The mother adopts that one so her baby has a companion.  Seeing the interaction of the animals is a lot like humans.

This is good way to learn about animals.


Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Snoozapalooza by Kimberlee Gard, Vivian Mineker

Mouse goes in his den to take a snooze.  After all, it's winter and time to sleep.

Familius and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published tomorrow.

The little mouse is sleeping away and doesn't notice as other animals join him..  This will help your little one learn to count.  A nice variety of animals all snuggle together until there are ten of them.  Soon their snoring disturbs the forest.

It's fun to watch what the other animals do to wake them up!

Everyone is friends in this story and it's very sweet.  Small ones will enjoy reading it.


Monday, August 10, 2020

Dragon Mountain by Katie Tsang, Kevin Tsang

Billy Chan is being sent to a Chinese language and culture class this summer.  He hates it.  But, surprisingly, he finds himself making friend with a few kids.  Maybe it won't be so bad...

Sterling Publishing and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

With Dylan O’Donnell, Charlotte Bell, and Liu Ling-Fei, they set out to find the item on their scavenger hunt.  They take a short cut that Liu knows about.  They pavilion that's supposed to have monkeys all over it has a tiger instead.  Despite their fear they attempt to stay safe.  The tiger is not playing that game, though.  Then there is an earthquake...

When they go back to camp, no one felt the earthquake.  They also get in trouble for going the way they did.  And they came in last at the scavenger hunt.  But they saw a dragon and intend to go back.  The next free morning they have they enter the cave.  They are amazed the dragon can talk in their language.  He invites three more dragons out and then tells the four children they are meant to bond with them.

They do, and they name their dragons.  In no time at all, they are in a war with the evil dragons who want to take over the world.  It's a hard nasty fight but the good dragons win.  The only problem is the bad dragon kidnapped Dylan.  Billy won't leave until he gets him back...

The next book will continue the adventure.  This was a fun book to read and should grip the young readers.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Find Me! Adventures in the Forest by Agnese Baruzzi

This book is intended for children but some of the questions stumped me, too.  They give you several things to search for on each page.  Give this to a child with patience.  Some of the searches take awhile.

The book was sent to me to read and review.  It has been published and you can grab it now.  There are more in this series.

I enjoy looking for differences.  These pages are full of animals and it's a challenge to find all three things they have you look for.  But it's fun!  Why not surprise your child with a copy and see how they do?

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Chestnut by Jennifer Li Shotz

Chestnut got lost in the woods and was hungry for both love and food.  Meg is working with her family on the Christmas tree farm.  When she heads for home, she hears a dog whimpering and goes to look.  He's got his head stuck in the fence.  She gets him loose and then hides him in an outbuilding they don't use anymore.  She takes him food and water, loves him, and walks him when she can.

HMH Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

She asks again, but her parents say no to having a dog.  She lies rather revealing the truth and when the dog gets out and comes in the house, she's in big trouble...

They tell her it has to go to the pound.  As soon as they have delivered the dog there and she's home, she goes to visit her friend who has dogs.  He asks if they could foster a new dog.  His parents say yes, but not for long.  When they get to the pound, the lady tells them the dog has already been adopted.  As Meg feels her stomach sinking, she hears the lady say the dog had four white paws.  Her dog only had one and he's still there.

Then someone stole a bunch of their trees at the back of the property.  The sheriff says there's no way to prove who the trees belonged to, so don't expect recovery.  Meg takes Chestnut to the back of the property and has him track them to their house.  Then she starts for home but it's night, it's cold, the ground is rough and she falls.  Will her parents find her in the snow off the farm land?

Friday, August 7, 2020

The Mirror: Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao

Elva sees the future when she looks in water.  She doesn't want to be accused of being a witch (everyone in town hates them), so she doesn't look at water surfaces anymore.  Besides, that makes her mother happy...

Disney-Hyperion and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

When, by accident, Elva sees a monstrous storm that takes their barn down and kills animals, she's worried,  She knows that will devastate her family and she needs to figure out how to stop it or how to prepare for it.  She decides to go find the witch of the woods and learn more magic.

First she goes to her old house.  It's vacant and in bad repair after all the years but she finds a magic mirror under the floorboards.  It leads her to the witch.

The witch isn't welcoming and doesn't want to help her.  After more conversation, she agrees to teach her some magic.  It's not as easy as it looks.  She has to totally focus.  She works at it not knowing if she can stop the storm or not.

Her youngest brother goes missing and she goes with her parents to find him even if she's supposed to be at the trial of the witch.  She finds him and then learns they are going to hang the witch.  She protests, they ignore her.  She goes home and uses the mirror to undo parts of the past.  She doesn't stop when she gets tired and that's a mistake...

This is a fairytale and I enjoyed reading it.


Thursday, August 6, 2020

Saddled with Murder by Eileen Brady

Kate is a vet but she can get caught up in a silly moment, too.  They are eating litter cake (looks like, doesn't taste like) and they ask her what she'd wish for.  She jokes she'd wish for her difficult clients to disappear and names them. The employee posts it on social media, but doesn't remove her damning words.

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

When she finds one of those customers dead in his chair, she's regretting her words.  Then another one shows up dead.  It's getting creepy...

As she worries and tries to figure out who killed then, her old boyfriend was beat up and come to stay with her while healing.  He's rather do a little more but she says no and sleeps on the couch.  Then her last boyfriend shows up again.  She's trying to solve murders, not solve her love life.

But when she thinks about it, there is more than one suspect.  Can she figure out who really did it?  Can she keep herself alive when she does?

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

White Fox by Sara Faring

This is an eerie story with a touch of horror.  Two sister are atill wondering what became of their mother.  She disappeared ten years ago. Their father says he doesn't know what happened but he's passed on now.  One sister thinks she's dead.  One thinks she's alive.  Who's right?

Macmillan's Publishing Group and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on September 22nd.

Their mother was an actress and when they finally arrive back home after the death of their father, they find part of a script.  It's called the White Fox and it based on an old fairy tale.  However, it's not complete.  They begin to wonder if their mother is the white fox and has gone back to the wild but decide that's too silly.

Their Uncle Teddy is taking care of them now and they think he's like a teddy bear.He's sweet and kind.  But behind that facade, he's more of a grizzly bear.  When they discover that, there only choice is to run and the only place to hide is in the forest.   He's relentless as a hunter and he finds them.  They run again.  And they find their mother...


Monday, August 3, 2020

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim

Vanessa can see prophecies but she can't control them.  She'll be drinking tea and the prophecy just blurts out of her.  The worst part is most of them foresee death.  She decides to visit Paris and her aunt there.  Maybe she can help her control them...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for for review (thank you).  It will be published on August 4th.

Aunt Evelyn says she's getting headaches because she's full of prophecies and she'll have to let them out.  As she serves tea and cookies, she also occasionally serves up prophecies.  When she finally runs out, her aunt tries to teach her to do it without tea.  That's not working.  When her aunt pressures she gets mad and decides to move out.

While moving out, she falls in the street and is only able to save herself by sacrificing her suitcase.  After a night in the hospital she moves back in with her aunt.  But her prophecies seem to be gone.  Now she's becoming a matchmaker...

Can she reunite her aunt and the man she left behind in Paris?  Does she has a chance at love?  Maybe...

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

Emmeline is fighting for shifter's rights.  She's so well known, she's been invited to be a speaker on the international level.  She's thrilled until she gets a letter threatening her with death.  But she's not backing down...

Shadow Mountain Publishers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

Her mother panics and drags her down to the police station.  She wants an officer assigned to her to protect her.  Wouldn't you know they'd assign the man was her nemesis?  He's been dragging her down to jail when she incites a riot.  Still, he's better than nothing.

The detective inspector is in almost as much danger as she is but doesn't know it.  Everything goes along fine except they are falling in love.  They don't really act like in public though.

They board the plane to go to the speaking engagement but changes its route and heads to Portugal.  He goes back out and finds she's ditched the plane using wings to land.  He follows her.  She hurts her ankle on landing.  He carries her part of the way and finally finds a farmer heading to town who will take them there, too.

What's interesting is that their own family members are the most dangerous.  They have confrontations with them and the only way they survive is a strong will and determination.

This story has a very satisfying ending...

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Girl Giant and the Monkey King by Van Hoang

She's a small girl who is very strong,  She tries to ask her mother about her father but she won't talk about him.  She's Vietnamese and she hates being different.  She looks different and she doesn't recognize her own strength.  They've just recently moved and she doesn't like it here.  But her best friend from her old school is no longer responding to her either.  She's stuck in the middle with no friends.

Roaring Book Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published October 6th.

Thom is not looking forward to a school event where her mother wants her to wear a Vietnamese outfit.  She's got enough trouble without standing out anymore.

Her mother takes her to a church with her.  While she's there, she snoops behind an open door and finds part of a display on the floor.  She picks it up to reshelve it but finding a strange hair on the floor she pockets it.  When she gets home, she finds out she has set loose the Monkey King.  He acts like her friend but she's not sure.  He wants to see how strong she is.  He's impressed.

Then she finds the new neighbor is a boy of her age and he says he's a dragon and her guardian.  She's not sure who to believe.  Who's her true friend?

She finds the dragon boy can see the Monkey King even if no one else can.  And before the end of the book, she finds out who's using using her.

There were be another book in this series.  I wonder how it will all turn out?

Nonna Marie and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra

As Nonna Maria's longtime friend and sometimes colleague, Captain Murino of the Ischian caribineri never wanted to see harm brought to t...